STAFF at York's only special needs nursery today warned the service, a lifeline for many parents, could be lost to the city.

Staff at St Dymphna's Pre-School Nursery for Children with Special Needs, say that just three years after it opened its doors at Westbank Park, Holgate, could be forced to close.

The nursery, which provides respite care for up to 10 families every day, costs about £60,000 to run each year - but receives just £10,000 in grants. "At the moment I'm scrabbling about in our box of pennies so that we can get some money together for wages," said nursery team leader Moira Taylor.

"You accept that when you work for a charity you don't get paid the same wages as everyone else but at this time of year we are literally begging people for donations - we just don't know if we are going to be open next month or not."

For Strensall mum Audrey Calvert, whose three-year-old daughter Kate attends the nursery four days a week, St Dymphna's has been a life-saver.

"Kate started here last June - we were literally coming to our wits' end wondering what we were going to do with her," she said.

"But St Dymphna's was a real life-saver. They do one-to-one work with Kate and she can even count up to five now.

"It has to keep going. God knows what we would do if it shut down."

At the moment fund-raisers and volunteers are keeping the nursery afloat.

"We are the only nursery around who specialises in special needs children. It's a service York can't afford to lose." said Moira.

Can you help? If you would like to find out more about fund-raising for St Dymphna's contact Moira Taylor on 01904 781939

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